Abstract

CANO, Ignacio; ASCENSIO, Christian  and  MORALES, Fátima. Decline of cholo gangs in the Valley of Mexico (ZMVM). Estud. sociol [online]. 2026, vol.44, e2915.  Epub Apr 20, 2026. ISSN 2448-6442.  https://doi.org/10.24201/es.2026v44.2915.

This article explores the reasons for the decline of cholo gangs in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico over the last 30 years, based on qualitative research with gang members and police officers. Both groups confirm a decrease in the number of gangs and their episodes of violence. Gang members and police officers offer largely overlapping explanations for the phenomenon, including violence and the deaths of their members, police pressure, aesthetic changes in youth, and, especially, the presence of organized crime. Gang members appear to have opted for one of two options: integration into a conventional life or incorporation into organized crime.

Keywords : gangs; Mexico; evolution; cholo.

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